State officials said her situation is part of a growing trend. Last school year, about 3,300 students in New Hampshire were considered homeless, which is defined as lacking a "fixed, adequate and nighttime residence."

"They live in a variety of different locations, going from house to house," said Cathy Kuhn of the New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness. "Sometimes they'll go to campgrounds or live in their cars."

Janine Richards is a homeless outreach worker in the Hampton School District. She said about 48 students in the district below high school level are homeless.

The families often rent off-season apartments at Hampton Beach for $150 to $300 per week. They then move out near the end of the school year.

"My understanding is most of them, as soon as it's warm out, can go to local campgrounds," Richards said.

At nearby Winnacunnet High School, 23 students are considered homeless.

"We do have students who don't know where they're going to be a couple nights at a time and have to sort of figure that out on the fly," said Talley Westerberg, Winnacunnet High School homeless liaison.

To make things worse, older teens sometimes leave or get kicked out of their homes. Reports show there are about 500 such "unaccompanied youth" statewide. They attend class by day and stay with friends at night.

"Sometimes, if a student has a car, they'll come in and say, 'I slept in my car last night,'" Westerberg said. "That's when it becomes desperate. They're more willing to talk about things."

Many students don't admit they lost their home out embarrassment or fear that the state might separate the family.

"So, it's scary," Kuhn said. "And I do think it's an under-reported number because it is so difficult to identify."

For those who are identified and qualify, schools are required to provide a seamless education, thanks in large part the federal McKinney-Vento Act, which is posted in every school.

It means documents such as proof of residence or health records don't need to be produced right away when enrolling. The goal is to keep the student in the same school, so if a family has to move, the district must pay for and provide transportation.

Last year, the Hampton district spent more than $16,000 on things like buses and cabs. Outreach workers like Richards and Westerberg also work with students to make sure they have supplies and extra academic help.

It doesn't always work, but it often does.

"We had three students who graduated last year who were homeless and are going on to school," Westerberg said.

As for Sarilyn, she said she also hopes to one day go to college and work in the medical field. For now though, she has been in one school for two months and wants to stay.

She said her dream one day is to live in a lake house with her dad.

"Kind of a simple house," she said. "Just him and I, being our old selves."

Experts said that consistency, including staying in the same school, is important for homeless children. It's estimated that every time a child changes schools, that child loses a year of academic progress.